Kiwi Plant Bruno (female) - Actinidia chinensis

The Kiwi or Actinidia Bruno is a useful female variety for its productivity, ease of cultivation, and the highly aromatic flavour of its fruits. The plant produces elongated fruits of medium size, weighing 60 to 100 grams, covered with brown and hairy skin, with green flesh that is both sweet, tangy, and aromatic. This variety requires the proximity of a male plant for pollination. It is a vigorous liana that should be trained along a pergola or on a very sturdy trellis. Ideally, it should be planted in autumn or all year round, except during frost, for harvest in November, from the 3rd or 4th year. To pollinate it, choose for example the 'Tomuri' kiwi, a male variety.

The Kiwi (Actinidia chinensis or deliciosa), also known as Chinese gooseberry or yang tao, is the fruit of the Actinidia. It belongs to the Actinidiaceae family, just like its cousin, the Kiwai (Actinidia arguta). Originally from China, the kiwi is a vigorous climbing liana, capable of growing 3 metres (10 feet) per year under favourable conditions. This climbing plant should be trained on a sturdy support, such as a wall with strong wires, a trellis, a pergola, a tree trunk, or a fence. It can reach a height of 6 metres (20 feet) and a spread of 4 metres (13 feet), and requires pruning to control its growth.

Some varieties are self-fertile (male and female flowers on the same plant) and can be planted alone. Other varieties bear either male or female flowers and require the presence of a plant of the opposite sex for pollination. One male plant can pollinate approximately 5 to 6 female plants. Only female plants produce fruits. The Bruno cultivar only bears female flowers.

The Bruno Kiwi is hardy down to -18°C (-0.4°F), but is sensitive to late frosts in May, as the buds freeze at -5°C (23°F). Its foliage is deciduous and falls in autumn. The twining stems bear large, oval, and entire leaves, with a dark matte green colour on the top and lighter colour underneath, covered, like the stems, in small red hairs. In May-June, clusters of fragrant flowers appear on the previous year's branches. These flowers have wide creamy-white petals, measuring 4 cm (2in) in width. Female flowers have white stigmas.

Flowering is followed by the formation of large, fleshy, ovate berries, weighing approximately 100 grams for Bruno. The thin skin is light brown and hairy for varieties derived from Actinidia chinensis. The flesh is green, juicy, slightly sweet, but delightfully tangy and contains numerous small black seeds. Kiwi is rich in vitamin C, fibre, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Harvesting takes place around November, before the frosts. The fruits can be picked even if they are still green, as they continue to ripen after harvest. They can be stored well at a cool temperature of 5°C (41°F), in a cellar, for over a month. Kiwi is ripe when it is soft to the touch. Place kiwis next to apples or bananas to accelerate their ripening. Once peeled, kiwi can be enjoyed on its own or mixed with other autumn fruits, used in jams, or as a decoration for pies and certain savoury dishes.

To save space, plant a male plant at the base of a pole or pylon: it will climb and elongate without taking up too much ground space.